Variable-line-spacing mechanism for type-writers.



W. 1). FRIGKS. VARIABLE LINE SPAOING MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED 311N115, 1909. v

"Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

Gawenfoz wh Agngpgrnur orrrcn,

WILLIAM D. FRIGKS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR ONE-HALF TO HARRY M.

ASHE, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

VARIABLE-LINE-SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specificationof Letters Iatent. Patented lay, 14, 1911 Application filed June 5,1909. Serial No. 500,365.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM D. FRICKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton-and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Variable-Line-Spacing Mechanism forType'Writers, of which the following is a specification. i

The purpose of the present inventionis to supply a novel mechanism for adjusting the platen of typewriters'so as to properly position paper particularly when making corrections or it is otherwise requiredto adjust paper to a required line. Alsolwhen a letter is partly written and has been taken out for any purpose and it is desiredto readjust the same in the machine, to commencewhere the work was left ofi', samecan beadjusted by I this mechanism and the first line with the regular space will be identically the same distance as the line previous. a

A further purpose of the invention is to devise a line spacing mechanism which may be applied to any styleor make of typewriting machine without requiring special construction either of the platen, its sup porting frame or cooperating parts.

For a full understanding of the invention, and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached in which corresponding and like parts are vindicated in the several views of. the drawing and referred to in the description by the same reference characters.

The invent-ion consists of thenovel fe atures, details of construct-ion and combinations of parts which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustratedin the ac companying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims. s i

Referring to the drawings forming a part of the specifications: Figure'l is a detail view of the end portion of'a platen for typewriter machinesprovided with variable line spacing mechanism constructed in accord ance with the prcsent invention, an end portion of theplaten and the line spacing mechanism being in section. -Fig.-2"i sj fa; section on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1 lookingiiithe dircc'tion of the arrows, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of' Fig. 1 looking to the right as indicated by the arrows.

The numeral 1 designates the platen of a typewriter machine which may be of usual platen and secured thereto construction. A head 2 is secured to one end of the platen and has a portion fitted therein and a portion overlapping the end of the by means of screws or like fastenings 3. A flange 4 is provided upon the outer face of the head 2 and forms a support for the line-spacing ratchet'ring 5 which is provided upon its outer edge with the usual ratchet teeth for cooperation with the line spacing pawl and the detent of the typewriter, said parts being well understood and not illustrated. A cap platedissecured tothe head 2 and retains the line-spacing ratchet ring ,5 in. properp'osition. The inner edge of thelinespacing ring 5 is provided with cogs or teeth 7 preferably of. square form so as to obtain a bearin upon theannular flange 4. The platen head 2 is fast to the platen soaas to turn therewith but the line-spacing rin 5 is relativelyl'oose thereby admitting of re ative movement between the platen and linespacing ring which is essentialto the efiiciency of the invention.

The centrally disposed l'ongitudinal shaft Sis mounted in the end bar 9 of'the platen frame and is provided near its outer end with the finger piece 10 for turning the platen to properly space the writin The finger piece 10-is loose upon'the sha 't 8 and is connected to a sleeve 11 mounted upon the shaft 8 and secured at its inner end -to the platen head 2. The shaft 8 is provided at its inner'end with a pinion 12 which is in mesh with a gear wheel 13 fast to the inner end of a longitudinal shaft 14 mounted in the platen head 2 and the cap plate 6. The shaftvl t is provided at its outer end with a pinion'15 fast thereto and haying its cogsin I mesh with the teeth 'or.cogs 7 of the linespacing ring 5. -The'shafts 8 and 14 are parallel. A finger piece 16 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 8 so as toturn there with, A friction clutch 17 isprovided betWf-len the finger pieces 10 and 16-.t0 prevent relative movement thereof under ordinary conditions thereby preventing displacement otthelinespacing mechanism and insuring a uniform spacing of the writing. Thefric-' tion clutch 17 is fast to the shaft 8 and finger-piece 16 and comprises a hub portion and a disk portion, the latter engaging fricti'onally with the finger piece 10.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the line spacing ring 5 is held from turning backward by the usual detent and is adapted to be moved forward by the line spacing pawl when it is required to turn the platen for properly spaclng the writing.

Should it be required to move the platen, a comparatively small distance to bring the writing into proper alinement, it is only necessary'to grasp the finger-piece 16 and turn the same either to the right or to the left as may be required independent of the regular p'lateh knob 01' finger-piece 10 doing away with the usual custom of pushing in the regular platen knob or push button, of other inventions, and holding same in that position until turned to the desired writing line this is obviated by my invention. This movement is transmitted by means of the shaft 8 and gearin 12,13 and 15 to the linespacing ring 5 and inasmuch as said ring 5 isiheld stationary,the platen is moved by a reactionary operation of the power transmitting gearing as will be readily understood. After the platen has been moved to properly :aline the writing, the spacing of the ring is 25 effected by the usual line spacing pawl cooperating with the ratchet ring 5.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention,

together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is i i 1. In combination with the platen of a typewriting machine, and .a line spacing shaft in line with the axis of the platen and provided with a finger piece, a second. shaft mounted upon the platen parallel with the axial shaft and spaced. therefrom, gearing between the two shafts, other gearing between said second shaft and the line spacing ratchet element, a second finger piece connected with the platen for moving the same positively, and a clutch for connecting the two finger pieces.

3. In combination, a typewriter platen, a shaft in line with the axis thereof and pro vided with a finger-piece, a sleeve mounted upon said shaft and likewise provided with a finger piece, means between the sleeve and shaft, for preventing relative movement thereof, a second shaft spaced from and mounted parallel with the axial shaft and geared thereto, a line spacing ratchet element mounted loosely upon the platen and gearing between said line-spacing element and said second shaft.

4. In variable line spacing mechanism for typewriters, the cpmbination of a head, spaced shafts mounted upon the head in parallel relation, the one coinciding with the axis of the head, the other being arranged to one side of the axis of the'platen towhich said head is to be secured, gearing between the two shafts, a line spacing ratchet element mounted loosely upon the head, gearing between said line spacing element and the shaft mounted to one side of the center of the head, a third shaft connected with the head and concentric with the axial shaft and rotatable independently thereof, and a clutch for connecting the two concentric shafts.

5. In variable line spacing mechanism for typewriter platens, the combination of a head provided with a flange, a line spacing ratchet ring mounted upon said flange, a cap plate secured to the head and adapted to retain the line s acing ratchet ring in place, a shaft mounts centrally of the head, a second shaft mounted to one side of the center of the head, gearing between the two shafts, other gearing between said second shaft and the line spacing ratchet ring, a sleeve fast to the head and mounted upon the centrally disposed shaft, finger pieces secured respectively to said sleeve and center shaft, and a friction clutch between the two finger pieces.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

'WILLIAM D. FRICKS.

Witnesses H. M. Assn, Cmr'roN L. JOHNSON. 

